SPLB vs VYM
State Street SPDR Portfolio Long Term Corporate Bond ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, SPLB or VYM?
Long Term Bond against Large Cap Value.
VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | SPLB | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.04%Tie | 0.04%Tie |
| AUM | $1.2B | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.60% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 2,933 | 613 |
| YTD Return | -1.97% | +12.29%Best |
| 1Y Return | -3.45% | +16.61%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +3.96% | +17.42%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -3.56% | +12.12%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.8%Best | 13.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -35.2%Best | -35.7% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $8,342 | $17,718Best |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Long Term Bond | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Mar 10, 2009 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 11, 2009 to Sep 17, 2026 (17.5 years).
SPLB vs VYM growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
SPLB vs VYM Performance
State Street SPDR Portfolio Long Term Corporate Bond ETF (SPLB) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SPLB returned -3.45% while VYM returned +16.61%. Year to date, SPLB is down 1.97% versus a gain of 12.29% for VYM.
Over three years, SPLB compounded at +3.96% per year against +17.42% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are -3.56% and +12.12% respectively. Across the full 18-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +12.33% annualized vs +1.67%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.4% compared with 10.8% for SPLB. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -35.2% for SPLB and -35.7% for VYM. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.40. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPLB charges 0.04% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $4 vs $4 annually. On income, SPLB currently yields 5.60% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.7% of VYM's money is in holdings SPLB also owns.
Stated as a floor: for SPLB, our book for it covers 83.9% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
4 positions in common, counted across the 2,703 positions we hold weights for in SPLB and 557 in VYM, against full books of 2,933 and 613.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPLB and VYM you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, SPLB or VYM?
SPLB has an expense ratio of 0.04% while VYM charges 0.04%. At the precision these are quoted to, they cost the same.
Which performed better, SPLB or VYM?
Over the past year SPLB returned -3.45% vs +16.61% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (18 years), SPLB annualized +1.67% vs +12.33% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPLB or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 13.4% annualized versus 10.8% for SPLB. Worst drawdown: SPLB -35.2% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both SPLB and VYM?
SPLB and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.40, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPLB or VYM?
SPLB yields 5.60% while VYM yields 2.22%, so SPLB currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than SPLB?
VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.